Advertising display support

ABSTRACT

A support structure for an advertising display in the form of a spider member having a plurality of notched legs for supportably engaging the sidewalls of a multisided advertising display through apertures therein, the spider member being mounted on an upright post or suspended by an overhead string. The spider member preferably has a ring-shaped central body portion within which an adapter may be removably inserted for attachment to a string or to the top end of a tubular support post.

United States Patent Peter B. lverson Excelsior, Minn.

[21] Appl. No. 795,614

[22] Filed Jan. 31, 1969 [45] Patented May 25, 1971 [73] Assignee Postmark Corporation Minneapolis, Minn.

[72] Inventor [54] ADVERTISING DISPLAY SUPPORT 6 Claims, 7 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 40/145 [51] lnt.Cl G09i7/l8 [50] Field of Search 40/125, 145,128,152.1

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,788,591 l/l931 Regen 40/128 3,488,875 1/1970 Gant 40/145 FOREIGN PATENTS 366,486 2/1932 Great Britain 40/145 Primary Examiner--Robert W. Michell Assistant ExaminerWenceslao J. Contreras Att0rneyWilliamson, Palmatier & Bains ABSTRACT: A support structure for an advertising display in the form of a spider member having a plurality of notched legs for supportably engaging the sidewalls of a multisided advertising display through apertures therein, the spider member being mounted on an upright post or suspended by an over head string. The spider member preferably has a ring-shaped central body portion within which an adapter may be removably inserted for attachment to a string or to the top end of a tubular support post.

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if Inn INVEN'IOR Perez 8. Wsesou .4 rrama-ys ADVERTISING DISPLAY SUPPORT BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The support structure of this invention has been particularly designed with a view towards providing a simple, inexpensive and convenient way of supporting advertising displays. Because many commercial establishments are constantly changing their advertising displays in order to emphasize different products and reflect price changes, there is a definite need for a support arrangement which may beset up easily, and which permits the advertising material displayed thereon to be quickly changed. I

I have been able. to achieve these basic objectives by a support structure which is particularly characterized by a spider member which may be conveniently mounted on an upright post or suspended by a string, and which is adapted to securely engage the vertically extending sidewalls of an advertising display by means of outwardly projecting legs disposed in a horizontal plane. Notches on the outer ends of the legs serve to firmly receive an edge portion of the display sidewall defined by an aperture cut therein.

As a particularly beneficial aspect of my improved support structure, the aforesaid spider member has an annular, central body portion which is sized to slide snugly in place on a support post. Deflectable tabs projecting inwardly from the annular body section pennit the spider member to be mounted on support posts having a lesser diameter than that of the annular portion of the spider. I

A further advantageous feature of my invention resides in the use of an adapter member which may be removably inserted within the annular body portion of the spider member and which may be snapped in place on the top of a tubular support post by means of downwardly depending, circular collar or shoulder portions which are sized to provide a friction fit with the inside diameter or outside diameter of the post. Alternatively, a string may be attached to the adapter insert for ceiling suspension of the advertising display.

These and other objects and advantages of my invention will be become readily apparent as the following description is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals have been used to designate like elements throughout the several views.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front, perspective view showing a multisided advertising display supported on my unique spider member and post arrangement;

FIG. 2 is a top, plan view of the display structure of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a vertical section view taken along lines 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a vertical section view showing an alternative embodiment of my invention wherein one of the spider members is attached to the top of a support post by the adapter insert;

FIG. 5 is a vertical section view similar to FIG. 4 showing how the adapter insert may be attached to a smaller diameter tube;

FIG. 6 s an exploded, perspective view showing the spider member and the adapter insert therefor; and

FIG. 7 is a vertical section view showing the spider member and adapter insert combination supporting an advertising display by means of a suspension string.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 I have shown one embodiment of my advertising display structure wherein two of my unique spidersupport members 1 and 2 are held in place on an upright support post 4. Each 'of the spider members 1 and 2 is comprised of a central body section 5, 6 of circular configuration from which a plurality of support legs 7, 8 project outwardly on sub stantially radial lines. Reference may be had to FIG. 6 for a clear understanding of the structure of spider members 1 and 2. The inside diameter of ring sections 5 and 6 is sized so that the spider members may be slidably mounted on support post 4 at the desired longitudinal locations thereon in a tight, friction-fit therewith.

In order to permit spider members 1 and 2 to be mounted on support posts of various diameters, a plurality of inwardly projecting, deflectable tabs or lugs 9 and 10 is provided on the inner periphery of annular support sections 5 and 6. Tabs 9 on spider member 1 are clearly shown in FIG. 6. In the arrangement shown in FIGS. 1 through 3 wherein the outer diameter of support post 4 is substantially the same as the inner diameter of central ring sections 5 and 6, tabs 9 and 10 are deflected upwardly in the manner shown in FIG. 3 as spider members 1 and 2 are slidably mounted in place on post 4. In this arrangement tabs or lugs 9 and 10 assist in holding spiders l and 2 on post 4 by frictional engagement therewith. Spider members 1 and 2 are preferably molded as integral pieces from yieldable plastic such as polyethylene, this method of fabrication being particularly well suited to the formation of tabs 9 and 10. In the molding process, tabs 9 and 10 are formed as integral parts of spider members 1 and 2 as relatively thin plastic projections sufficiently deflectable that they may be displaced substantially axially along post 4 when a support post having the same outer diameter as the inner diameter of annular body sections 5 and 6 is sued in the manner shown in FIG. 3. The support assembly utilizing tabs 9 and 10 to engage a post of lesser diameter is described below with respect to FIG. 5.

Referring again to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, it will be seen that spider members 1 and 2 have been utilized to support a multisided advertising display 12 on upright post 4. As appears most clearly in FIG. 3, spider members 1 and 2 are slidably assembled in place on post 4 in longitudinally spaced relation to each other. Each of the sidewalls 13, 14 and 15 of display piece 12 is cut at vertically spaced points 16 and 17 to provide hinged tabs 18 and 19. The outer ends 20, 21 of legs 7, 8 are beveled to a point as shown to facilitate their insertion through the apertures defined by hinged tabs 18, 19, these tabs being displaced outwardly and engaging the underside of spider legs 7, 8 in the arrangement shown in FIG. 3. Each of the support legs 7, 8 is provided with a transversely extending notch or slot 22, 23 at its outer end. In order to assemble display device 12 on spiders 1, 2 sidewalls 13, 14 and 15 thereof are bowed inwardly to the position shown in FIG. 1 against beveled ends 20, 21. Since spiders 1, 2 are disposed in substantial horizontal alignment with sidewall slits 16, 17, the inward pressure on sidewalls 13, 14 and 15 will cause beveled ends 20, 21 to displace hinged tabs 18, 19 outwardly, and the upper edge of the aperture defined by slits 16, 17 and displaced tabs 18, 19 will be received within notches 22, 23. The slight upward pressure exerted by displaced tabs 18, 19 on the underside of beyeled end portions 20, 21 of legs 7, 8 assist in holding the upper edge of the apertured sidewalls l3, l4 notches 22, 23. Notches 22,

23 serve to hold inwardly bowed sidewalls l3, l4-and 15 in the assembled position shown in FIG. 1. By using two spiders 1, 2 in the spaced apart arrangement shown in FIGS. 1 through 3, display 12 is held securely at its upper and lower ends in a substantially central location along the length of mounting post 4. Although various materials may be used for display 12, I have found that cardboard sheets serve particularly well for this purpose because of their flexibility and self-supporting characteristics. Each of the inwardly bent, arched cardboard sidewalls 13, 14 and 15 tend to spring outwardly, thereby producing counterbalancing outward forces along the radial lines defined by spider legs 7 and 8. Post 4 may be supported in any desired manner on a counter or a shelf or table top.

In FIG. 4 I have shown an alternative embodiment of my display support wherein a special adapter insert, generally indicated -by reference numeral 24, is utilized with spider member 1 to support spider 1 on the top of tubular support post 4. Reference should now be had to FIG. 6, as well as FIG. 4, in order to gain a clear understanding of the manner in which insert 24 is assembled to one of the spider members 1. Insert 24 is a solid, circular disc which is preferably molded from the same plastic material from which the spider members 1 and 2 are formed. Insert 24 is provided with an annular shoulder 26so as to provide a reduced-diameter cylindrical extension 28 which is sized to fit snugly in place within the inside of annular, central body section 5. Annular body section 5 rests on top of shoulder 26, whereby spider member 1 is supported on top of insert adapter 24 in the manner shown in FIG. 4. Insert 24 further includes a pair of downwardly depending, annular collars 30 and 31 sized to engage support posts of different diameters. The inside diameter of outer collar 31 is sized to provide a friction fit with the outside periphery of a support post 4 of a preselected diameter as shown in FIG. 4. It will readily be appreciated that the secure engagement of insert 24 with the top of tubular support post 4 will provide a very secure mounting for upper spider l. A second spider member 2 will normally be mounted along post 4 downwardly from spider l in order to provide a firm support for advertising display 12 along the length of sidewalls 13, 14 and 15. Spiders l and 2 displace hinged tabs 18 and 19 outwardly and hold sidewalls l3, l4 and 15 firmly in place within notches 22 and 23 thereof in the same manner described above with respect to FIGS. 1 through 3.

FIG. 4 illustrates the way in which-spiders l and 2 and adapter insert 24 can be mounted on a support post having a lesser diameter than the inside of annular central sections 5 and 6 of spider members 1 and 2. As is indicated with respect to lower spider support 2 in FIG. 5, deflectable lugs or tabs will bear against the outside surface of reduced diameter post 4a, thereby holding spider 2 securely in place thereon. The plastic material, preferably polyethylene, from which spiders l and 2 are molded is rigid enough that deflectable lugs 9 and 10 will be self-supporting to the extent that they will hold their shape and maintain good, friction contact with the outside of post 40. In the arrangement shown in FIG. 5 upper spider member 2 is again supported on the top of post 4a by means of removable adapter 24. The outside diameter of inner, annular collar 30 is sized to snugly engage the predetermined, inside diameter of post 40. There will be a tight, force-fit between the collar 30 and the'inside wall of reduced diameter post 4a the same as is provided between outer collar 31 and larger diameter post 4 in the FIG. 4 arrangement. Longitudinally spaced spider members 1 and 2 engage sidewalls 13, 14 and of display 12 and provide support therefor in the same manner as described above with respect to FIGS. 1 through 4.

In the FIG. 7 embodiment of my invention, a string 32 is utilized to support the entire display assembly from a ceiling or overhead support. String 32 extends through an aperture 34 in insert 24 and is held in place against the underside thereof by a short cross brace 36. Spider member I rests securely on shoulder 26 of insert 24, whereby suspension string 32 attached to adapter 24 serves to hold spider l at the desired elevation. Notched legs 7 of spider l supportably engage the apertured sidewalls 13, 14 and 15 to hold display device 12 in the manner described above with respect to FIGS. 1 through 3. When using a string-mounting arrangement as shown in FIG. 7, a second spider member 2 is again employed when display 12 hassubstantial length in order to hold the lower end of sidewalls 13, 14 and 15 in the inwardly bowed, triangular configuration shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The primary support load for display 12 is carried by upper spider 1, lower spider 2 serving merely to retain the advertising display 12 in the desired geometrical configuration.

In addition to the support arrangements shown and described above with reference to FIGS. 1 through 7, it would also be possible to use a post-mounting arrangement wherein a spider member 1 would be secured to the bottom end of the post with ring-shaped body section 5 snugly embracing the post and providing the support means for the spider member. The spider on the lower end of the support post would supportably engage the upper margin of display sidewalls l3, l4 and 15, and a second spider member would be used much in the manner of spider member 2 of the FIG. 7 arrangement to lend support to the lower end of advertising display 12.

Although I have illustrated and described my unique support arrangement for an advertising display with respect to a three'sided, cardboard display 12, it will readily be appreciated that displays having a lesser or greater number of sidewalls may also be properly supported by means of spider members 1 and 2. It would only be necessary to modify the number of radially extending legs of the spider members in order to provide a support leg for each wall section of the advertising display. Also, if specially long advertising displays are utilized, then it might be necessary to use more than two longitudinally spaced spider members to provide adequate support for the display structure.

I claim:

1. A device for supporting a display having a plurality of sidewalls with advertising thereon, comprising:

a spider member having a central body section in the form of an annulus, and a plurality of legs projecting substantially radially outwardly therefrom, said legs being equal 4 in number to the number of said sidewalls of said display and each of said legs being adapted to extend through an aperture in one of said sidewalls and having a notch therein within which an edge of said aperture may be received; and

a plurality of tabs projecting substantially radially inwardly from said annulus, said tabs having sufficient strength and rigidity to hold said spider member in snug engagement with a support element of lesser diameter than said annulus, and said tabs being deflectable so as to permit said annulus to fit tightly around a support element substantially the same diameter as the inside of said annulus.

2. Advertising display structure including a display having a plurality of upright sidewalls with advertising thereon and a support device for said display comprising:

a spider member having a central body section in the form of an annulus, and a plurality of legs projecting substantially radially outwardly therefrom, said legs being equal in number to the number of sidewalls of said display and each of said legs extending through an aperture in one of said sidewalls and having a notch therein within which an edge of each of said apertures is restrainably received; and

a main support element comprising an upright post upon which said spider member is slidably mounted with said annulus in tight fitting engagement therewith.

3. The advertising display support structure of claim 2 wherein:

a plurality of said spider members is mounted on said post in longitudinally spaced relation to each other, the notched legs of each of said spider members being in supporting engagement with apertures in the sidewalls of a multidided advertising display.

4. The advertising display support structure of claim 2 wherein:

said sidewalls of said advertising display are made of flexible material, and each of said sidewalls is bowed inwardly towards said upright post, said sidewalls being held in said inwardly bowed position by restraining engagement with said notches on said legs of said spider member.

5. A device for supporting a display having a plurality of sidewalls with advertising thereon, comprising:

a spider member having a central body section in the form of an annulus and a plurality of legs projecting substantially radially outwardly therefrom, said legs being equal in number to the number of said sidewalls and each of said legs being adapted to extend through an aperture in one of said sidewalls in restraining engagement therewith;

a circular insert having a reduced diameter, cylindrical extension removably inserted within said annulus and defining with the outer periphery of said insert a shoulder upon which said central body section of said spider member is supported; and

said circular insert including means whereby a string may be attached thereto for suspending said advertising display device from an overhead support.

adapted to snap firmly in place on one end of a tubular support element of predetermined diameter. 

1. A device for supporting a display having a plurality of sidewalls with advertising thereon, comprising: a spider member having a central body section in the form of an annulus, and a plurality of legs projecting substantially radially outwardly therefrom, said legs being equal in number to the number of said sidewalls of said display and each of said legs being adapted to extend through an aperture in one of said sidewalls and having a notch therein within which an edge of said aperture may be received; and a plurality of tabs projecting substantially radially inwardly from said annulus, said tabs having sufficient strength and rigidity to hold said spider member in snug engagement with a support element of lesser diameter than said annulus, and said tabs being deflectable so as to permit said annulus to fit tightly around a support element substantially the same diameter as the inside of said annulus.
 2. Advertising display structure including a display having a plurality of upright sidewalls with advertising thereon and a support device for said display comprising: a spider member having a central body section in the form of an annulus, and a plurality of legs projecting substantially radially outwardly therefrom, said legs being equal in number to the number of sidewalls of said display and each of said legs extending through an aperture in one of said sidewalls and having a notch therein within which an edge of each of said apertures is restrainably received; and a main support element comprising an upright post upon which said spider member is slidably mounted with said annulus in tight fitting engagement therewith.
 3. The advertising display support structure of claim 2 wherein: a plurality of said spider members is moUnted on said post in longitudinally spaced relation to each other, the notched legs of each of said spider members being in supporting engagement with apertures in the sidewalls of a multidided advertising display.
 4. The advertising display support structure of claim 2 wherein: said sidewalls of said advertising display are made of flexible material, and each of said sidewalls is bowed inwardly towards said upright post, said sidewalls being held in said inwardly bowed position by restraining engagement with said notches on said legs of said spider member.
 5. A device for supporting a display having a plurality of sidewalls with advertising thereon, comprising: a spider member having a central body section in the form of an annulus and a plurality of legs projecting substantially radially outwardly therefrom, said legs being equal in number to the number of said sidewalls and each of said legs being adapted to extend through an aperture in one of said sidewalls in restraining engagement therewith; a circular insert having a reduced diameter, cylindrical extension removably inserted within said annulus and defining with the outer periphery of said insert a shoulder upon which said central body section of said spider member is supported; and said circular insert including means whereby a string may be attached thereto for suspending said advertising display device from an overhead support.
 6. The support structure for an advertising display defined in claim 5 wherein: said circular insert has a downwardly depending collar adapted to snap firmly in place on one end of a tubular support element of predetermined diameter. 